Summer reading challenge general discussion

[Kathryn]

Just a few thoughts (and I'm not familiar with Google Drive to fix things myself)
- I just added a book to the spreadsheet and it doesn't wrap the text...
- also the top and left-hand side panes don't freeze, so as you scroll along and down, it's hard to remember which spot you need to put your entry in. The panes on the ordinary challenge tabs are frozen...

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I think I fixed those issues, Kathryn! Thanks for pointing them out!

[Kathryn]

Emily wrote: "I think I fixed those issues, Kathryn! Thanks for pointing them out!"

You have, Emily! That's great, thanks! I've also just realised that the formula in the last 2 rows (55 and 56) don't extend past column M.

[dalex]

Emily wrote: "I took what dalex added and formatted it to match the rest of the tabs on the spreadsheet!"

Thanks for fixing everything Emily! I didn't really have time to fix the formatting and formulas.

I agree with Steve that it would be fantastic to figure out a way to set up the formulas so that it only counts one per section and then how many times a person has completed their Set of 12. I have no idea how to do this, though!

[Joan]

I completed my first book for the challenge. I read The Woman in the Window today. I could not put the thing down once I started it this morning. So I feel it was a great way to start off the challenge. It fell under the beach read list which I don't typically think of that as a beach read.

I think I have all of my prompts figured out. I'm excited about this challenge within a challenge. As of tonight I'm on track with the ATY challenge but I'll be one behind tomorrow. I'm trying to read the under 200 page one next so I can get caught up again.

[Johanne]

As far as I can tell it's 12 per month, Nari (4 tasks with 3 choices each). But still a very ambitious plan :)

[Ellie]

Considering I was so excited about June starting so I could get my teeth into this challenge...I only read about 10 pages at the weekend!

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

I also finished a book this weekend, On the Come Up. I need to catch up with my ATY challenge so I'm really hoping this gives me an extra push to get some serious reading done this summer :)

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Agreed, Laura! I'm right on track, which means I really have to stick to the one ATY book a week... but summer makes me want to read fluffy books and I have unfortunately slotted in some heavier books this month. Hopefully this challenge makes me feel excited to read these heavier ones!

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads)]

After being so excited to start this challenge, I ended up wanting to finish the book I was already reading, and then starting a Sunday afternoon book (which I'll also probably slot into challenges somewhere unless I DNF it), and not starting a planned challenge book until last night.

So, now I'm 50 pages into The Dry and it's Monday morning and I'm going to have convince myself to get things done instead of reading all day.

[Johanne]

I read all weekend so I am 2 books down :) Yesterday was our wedding anniversary, and I had completely forgotten. I had settled in for a day on the sofa with my book(s)... My husband remembered a couple hours into the day, he then baked a rhubarb crumble and served me prosecco, while I stayed on the sofa, reading. Safe to say I am happily married (even though I don´t remember anniversaries...)

[Milena]

Johanne wrote: "I read all weekend so I am 2 books down :) Yesterday was our wedding anniversary, and I had completely forgotten. I had settled in for a day on the sofa with my book(s)... My husband remembered a c..."

I love this. What a great husband!

[Sara]

Wonder if we can clone him??? lol. Congrats, Johanne on the husband and the anniversary.

[Johanne]

Thanks! You can clone him if you like, but you can´t have him ;)

[WVrambler]

I’ve already finished one book, the audiobook version of Elevation by Stephen King. It was only, 3:45 hours/160 pages, so it was fairly easy.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Since I'm reading in order this year, I've forgotten how hard it is to commit to one prompt per book. This book fits 7 prompts! How do I know I'm making the right decision? lolol overthinking over here.

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads)]

Emily wrote: "Since I'm reading in order this year, I've forgotten how hard it is to commit to one prompt per book. This book fits 7 prompts! How do I know I'm making the right decision? lolol overthinking over ..."

I always leave it open to switch books and prompts around later if something harder to slot comes up. Do you have more prompt commitment than that once you slot something? Or could you just stick it in one of those for now and see how it goes?

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

I don't mind sliding books around, but my brain isn't very good at it... I'm much more likely to just stick it somewhere.

My current plan is to just place the book with the least amount of books that will fit... I went through and added all of the books I plan on reading this summer (ATY challenge, school books, etc... the stuff I have to read) to all of the prompts they fit, so if there's only a few books that will fit a certain prompt, I'll place the book I read there.

The trouble falls with submitting the months by month... Once the month is submitted, it's locked in. I'd like to submit them as I finished, so I don't foresee being able to move them around much after that.

It will all work out! I have some pretty versatile books on my list. Just had that momentary panic trying to figure out where to place my first one.

[dalex]

Emily, I see that you added a note on the spreadsheet to create an additional list if you're completing the challenge more than once. However, the ability to add columns seems to be locked.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Hm... I just took the protections off of the bottom formulas... try again?

[Sarah]

Emily wrote: "Since I'm reading in order this year, I've forgotten how hard it is to commit to one prompt per book. This book fits 7 prompts! How do I know I'm making the right decision? lolol overthinking over ..."

I have the same problem! I started a book for one prompt but then the prologue was set in a bar...

[Sophie]

Emily wrote: "The trouble falls with submitting the months by month... Once the month is submitted, it's locked in. I'd like to submit them as I finished, so I don't foresee being able to move them around much after that."

We don't mind if you want to submit everything at the end!

[dalex]

Emily wrote: "Hm... I just took the protections off of the bottom formulas... try again?"

It works now. Thanks!

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

dalex, I saw that you added a third column to finish the challenge three times... just wanted to make sure you saw the updated rule that you can only complete it twice to have your name entered in the drawing!

[dalex]

Emily wrote: "dalex, I saw that you added a third column to finish the challenge three times... just wanted to make sure you saw the updated rule that you can only complete it twice to have your name entered in the drawing!"

Yes, I know, thank you. I am hoping to complete all 36 prompts even though it won't all count towards the drawing. Is it ok to have the third column on the spreadsheet? I can delete it if you don't want it there.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

It's absolutely fine to have it there! Just wanted to make sure you hadn't missed that clarification.

[dalex]

Emily wrote: "It's absolutely fine to have it there! Just wanted to make sure you hadn't missed that clarification."

Grand. Thank you!

[°~Amy~°]

Question:

On the week one challenge, In The Summertime, one of the options is a book with a title that begins with a letter in Summertime. Is that just the first letter of the first word or is it every word in the title?

I want to plug Eliza and her Monsters in there which only works if we are only counting the first letter of the first word, which is what it sounds like to me.

Sorry if this has been asked already. I am a little behind on the summer challenge boards!

[Bryony]

°~Amy~° wrote: "Question:

On the week one challenge, In The Summertime, one of the options is a book with a title that begins with a letter in Summertime. Is that just the first letter of the first word or is it ..."

It’s only the first word of the title for this one. :-)

[Milena]

Bryony wrote: "°~Amy~° wrote: "Question:

On the week one challenge, In The Summertime, one of the options is a book with a title that begins with a letter in Summertime. Is that just the first letter of the firs..."

So any book starting with "The" would work?

[°~Amy~°]

Bryony wrote: "°~Amy~° wrote: "Question:

On the week one challenge, In The Summertime, one of the options is a book with a title that begins with a letter in Summertime. Is that just the first letter of the firs..."

That's what I thought. Thank you Bryony :)

[Jo]

I’m excited to start the challenge will post my Goals soon

[Milena]

I have finished 2 books for June so far. I had them both scheduled for other challenges already.

[Jo]

Just Finished book #2 for my challenge ! So excited !
- [x] 📕 The Library Book
* By: Susan Orlean
* Narrated by: Susan Orlean
* Length: 12 hrs and 9 mins
* Unabridged Audiobook
* Release date: 10-16-18
* Language: English

[Clare]

Curious. How do people get the check marks and other emojis in their posts?

[Raquel (Silver Valkyrie Reads)]

Clare wrote: "Curious. How do people get the check marks and other emojis in their posts?"

I usually just copy someone else's check marks and paste them where I want them. :-)

I know some people's phone keyboards have emojiis and such as options--are you on a phone or computer?

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

On a Mac, you can hit Command + Control + Spacebar and the emoji box comes up! I'm not sure about PC.

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

Emily wrote: "On a Mac, you can hit Command + Control + Spacebar and the emoji box comes up! I'm not sure about PC."

Mind blown.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Jody taught me 🤷🏻‍♀️

[Laura, Celestial Sphere Mod]

This makes me wonder if my Mac is hiding all sorts of wonders 😂

[Clare]

I have a Mac so I’ll try that! I can’t figure out how to edit on my phone.

[Pam]

Clare - You can edit and add links on your phone if you go to the Desktop version. If you are on the App, you can’t!

[viemag]

Milena wrote: "Nadine wrote: "Can anyone recommend a book in which the characters drink beer or are at a bar? The only book I can think of is Sunburn by Laura Lippman, which I read ..."

How about The Bartender's Tale by Ivan Doig?

[Lieke]

Thanks to the summer challenge (for the first time this year I think) I’m on track 😄😄
Can we do an autumn and winter challenge too? 😉

[Bryony]

I’m so glad you’re enjoying the challenge Lieke!

I’d love to make challenges for the other seasons if it’s something people would enjoy. Although, I expect people might not want the prize of choosing a category for the main list to be available for other seasons. Maybe we could have another prize or people just complete the challenge for enjoyment.

[Sara]

Just a guess, but I think you'd have just as many who would do it just for the joy of completing.

[Ellie]

I'd love another seasonal challenge. A completion badge would be enough of a reward for me.

[Emily, Conterminous Mod]

Agreed! And then the mods wouldn't have to regulate it so closely.

[Bryony]

I’ve been amazed at how popular the summer challenge has been, and it’s great to hear people say you’d like another seasonal challenge. I’d really enjoy having other seasonal challenges too, so I’ll check in with the other mods and see if it’s something we can make happen. I’m sure we could manage a badge as a reward too. :-)

[Jackie, Solstitial Mod]

Oooo badges! Gimme gimme gimme